For talks, but other means too: Govt

Tribune News Service

Samba/Kathua, July 20

Favouring talks, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Centre had many “ways and means” to resolve the Kashmir issue, if dialogue failed to yield results.

He was  addressing a gathering at Pandori village in Kathua district. The Union Minister inaugurated two bridges worth Rs 91.9 crore built by the Border Roads Organisation at Ujh in Kathua and Basantar in Samba district.

Taking a swipe at Kashmir-based separatist leaders for “misguiding” Valley’s youth, he said: “They send their wards to foreign countries for jobs and exploit local youth and students by placing  stones in their hands to be thrown at the forces in the name of ‘azaadi’. What kind of ‘azaadi’ they want for the youths of Kashmir?”

He said Jammu and Kashmir “lies in my heart and this is the only reason I often visit this state, which is heaven”.

Unfortunately, the militants were trying to make it hell, he said. “Our forces will not allow them to succeed in their nefarious designs. It is my firm belief that not only Kashmir but the entire state will turn into a paradise in the near future.” Rajnath said the newly constructed bridges were not only important from the defence point of view, but also for residents living near the border with Pakistan.

Rajnath earlier paid tributes to soldiers killed in the Kargil war at a memorial in Drass Sector on the 20th anniversary of ‘Operation Vijay’.

‘No force on earth can stop us’

No force in the world can stop us from resolving the issue but I want to make it clear that those who want to resolve the issue through agitations should come and sit together for dialogue. If the Kashmir issue is not resolved through talks, we have some other ways to solve the problem. — Rajnath Singh, Defence minister